Monster Mash

It's hardly the pits when racers and fans gather on the track before a U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam event for the Pit Party, a chance to meet the racers and be photographed with the trucks. Last week was no exception in Rosemont.

"American Horror Story: Asylum" vs. "The Bible." And that's not even the weirdest thing about the Emmy nominations for best movie or miniseries. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences had its reasons for consolidating the movie and miniseries categories two years ago , despite protests from members of the longform-producing community. Although the miniseries had once represented the biggest and brightest fare on TV -- from "Roots" to "Shogun" -- networks...

"American Horror Story: Asylum" vs. "The Bible." And that's not even the weirdest thing about the Emmy nominations for best movie or miniseries. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences had its reasons for consolidating the movie and miniseries categories two years ago , despite protests from members of the longform-producing community. Although the miniseries had once represented the biggest and brightest fare on TV -- from "Roots" to "Shogun" -- networks...

Adam Lambert is just too gay for "Good Morning America." ABC's early morning chat-fest has nixed Lambert's scheduled performance on Wednesday's show because of his flamboyant appearance on the American Music Awards on Sunday night. ABC says it doesn't think Lambert would be appropriate for a morning audience. But CBS' "The Early Show" has invited Lambert to come in for a talk Wednesday, apparently unafraid of the prospect of morning man kisses. - - - Monster mash Lady Gaga has a lot of personal demons.

Our Flick of the Week is "Sphere," yet another science-fiction, alien-monster-on-the-loose picture, this time with a very good cast: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson and Sharon Stone are part of a team of American scientists sent to deal with the discovery of an alien spacecraft found in the Pacific Ocean. In a story that offers more frustration than delight, the spacecraft contains a large, bronze sphere that reflects more than light. As the team of investigators, under the direction of...

Further milking and aging the "Ben 10" franchise into teen territory, Cartoon Network has churned out a second live-action movie infused with a slick comic book feel while at times feeling more like product placement for cars and motorcycles than a movie. Still, "Ben 10: Alien Swarm" has upped "Ben 10's" game in terms of visual effects, and it races along briskly enough that it should connect with the older boy/younger-teen audience that the Turner-owned channel is cultivating with...

By A digest of coming events, compiled by Carlos Morales | October 18, 1998

A Monster Mash will be held Saturday at the Bunker Bar & Grill at the Sanctuary Golf Course in New Lenox. Prizes will be awarded for the scariest costume, the most original costume and the best couple costume. Tickets are available at the door and cost $3 without a costume and $2 with a costume. For more information, call 815-485-4653. ---------- 7 p.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. Sunday at the Sanctuary Golf Course, 485 N. Marley Rd., New Lenox.

As holiday music standards go, it's not exactly "White Christmas" or even "Easter Parade." But this Halloween weekend, you'll be saturated with one of the great, cheesy holiday records of all-time, "Monster Mash." If you are one of the few remaining Americans unfamiliar with it, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the writer and performer, did a hokey Boris Karloff imitation, took some amateurish sound effects and added bad background voices. Then Pickett combined them with a simple jingle to tell the story...

As holiday music standards go, it's not exactly "White Christmas" or even "Easter Parade." But this Halloween weekend, you'll be saturated with one of the great, cheesy holiday records of all-time, "Monster Mash." If you are one of the few remaining Americans unfamiliar with it, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the writer and performer, did a hokey Boris Karloff imitation, took some amateurish sound effects and added bad background voices. Then Pickett combined them with a simple jingle to tell the story...

Monster Mash: The Portage Theater hosts a tribute to Universal's monster classics on Saturday. The lineup starts with a special $5 matinee showing of "The Magic Sword" at 3 p.m., followed by "The Mole People" at 6 p.m., "Revenge of the Creature" at 8 p.m. and "Werewolf of London" at 9:40 p.m. All-day admission is $10. Doors open at 2 p.m. at the Portage, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., portagetheater.org. Sing-along "Mamma Mia!": Reeling: The Chicago Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival will host an...

There's a monster of a bill making its way through Congress, a proposal of such breathtaking complexity that only policy wonks could love -- or completely understand -- it. We're talking about a save-the-planet plan to curb America's carbon dioxide pollution. The bill, now in the U.S. House, creates a system known as cap-and-trade. Here's how it works: The government decrees a limit or cap on large sources of carbon dioxide pollution like coal-fired utility plants and refineries.

While the NCAA basketball brackets have been whittled down, another heated tournament is under way. Crystal Metheny is a favorite, though you can't discount Velvet Milkman or Long Wang. These are real names belonging to real people. Whether they know it or not they're competing in the 2009 Name of the Year tournament. "There is no malice intended," says STW, who along with buddies started the goofy tournament with pen and paper in 1983 while students at the University of Pennsylvania.

While the NCAA basketball brackets have been whittled down to the Final Four, another heated tournament is under way. Crystal Metheny is a favorite, though you can't discount Velvet Milkman or Long Wang. These are real names belonging to real people. Whether they know it or not they're competing in the 2009 Name of the Year tournament. "There is no malice intended," says STW, who along with buddies started the goofy tournament with pen and paper in 1983 while...

The Monster is a beast. Oakland Hills, a.k.a. "The Monster," continued to pummel the best players in the world Friday at the PGA Championship. At the end of the day, only one player, J.B. Holmes, was below par after two rounds. A round of 68 left him at 1 under. The last time that happened in a PGA Championship was in 1972. The course? Oakland Hills. Brandt Snedeker had the most succinct assessment of Oakland Hills, which plays to nearly 7,400 yards and has some of the nastiest greens this side of...

1. Situation critical It's old news now, but let me just say this steroids scandal has forever ruined baseball's purity. And that's why the world needs "American Gladiators" now more than ever. 2. Pumped up I'm excited to meet the new gladiators. Will they stick with their names from the old show, or will they go with something more contemporary like "iWarrior" or "I Can't Believe She's Not a Man!"? 3. Total recall "Survivor China" picked a winner Sunday night.